In short one can identify the corruption of the Church as one key reason that led to the Reformation. It’s inability to accept or reform itself led to the division of the Church. In all this one has to keep in mind that the popular opinion was already against the Church in many parts of Europe due to years of exploitation and apathy. The Christian community in our world today and particularly in India has a bad name when it comes to corruption. The church is rife with politics even now, leaders seem to seek powerful and profitable position not to serve but to fatten their purses. As a result of such skewed focus, church administration suffers. Christian institutions are getting fewer each year. Where are the mission hospitals of the yesteryears? Many such hospitals have been abandoned and taken over by locals to serve as free housing. Integrity and Efficiency in the Church, I want to see this change.
Apathy of the church during the Dark ages is another cause for the reformation. The people saw the Church as interested in making money and not showing the mercy of God it proclaimed. People suffered while the Church beautified its churches. What did the Church do during the Pandemic? How many churches opened their doors or served the neighbourhoods? We are now caught in status-quo mindset. We are happy the way things are and do not want to uncomfortable in doing any kind of outreach activities. We are basically groups of Christians mingling with Christians and struggling to live in peace with one another. I want to see a Church that is more humane and loving.
The church often functions like a big corporation, with plenty of committee and as such it becomes cumbersome and slow to react to the changes of today. The world now moves at breakneck speed while we sit on our pews wondering why are they so empty. We are too engrossed in problem solving that we are unable to anticipate the changes happening all around us. I want to see a church that is ready for the twenty first century, has a vibrant media team and is engaged in social media and digital content. While the medieval society lacked the literacy to read the Bible, today we have the literacy and technology but what is often lacking is the appeal to get sceptics to read the Bible. This needs to change. Thus, overall when we look at the Church, it has scope for changes, in fact some scholars say that the Reformation never ended but it continues to this day. My only desire with respect to these changes is that may they be resolved amicably without any further divisions.
What are your thoughts in this matter?
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